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karenleagermain's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Random House for providing me with an advanced copy of Colum McCann’s Thirteen Ways of Looking, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT – Colum McCann’s short story collection, Thirteen Ways of Looking, includes four stories, all involving a different type of violence or trauma. In a short afterward, McCann explains that while he was writing this collection, when he was sucker punched and knocked unconscious, while trying to help a woman who was being assaulted in New Haven, Connecticut. Although some of the stories were written prior to the incident, the assault inevitably had an impact on his stories in Thirteen Ways of Looking.
LIKE – This is my first time reading McCann, and I was caught off-guard by the way that his stories have been following me. I can’t get them out of my mind, which is a bit of a disaster, since the content is disturbing and weighty.
I was affected by all of the stories, but the one that packed the biggest punch, was Treaty. Told in close third person, Treaty is the story of an aging nun named Beverly. When Beverly was in her early twenties, she was kidnapped, brutally tortured, and raped. She escaped, but so did her rapist. Fast forward to the present, when Beverly sees him on television. He is now in politics, in London brokering a peace deal. Shocked and unsure how to handle this revelation, Beverly heads to London to confront her attacker. Treaty is a raw, gut-wrenching story that left me entirely surprised.
Another highlight is Sh’khol, the story of divorced mother Rebecca, and her thirteen year old son. Tomas. Tomas has mental and emotional disabilities, and he is prone to violent outbursts. He cannot be left on his own. Overwhelmed, but doing her best to care for him, Rebecca’s Christmas gift to Tomas is a wetsuit, so that they can swim together in the ocean, just steps from their home. Rebecca has a cocktail and goes to bed on Christmas, only to discover that Tomas and the wetsuit are missing the next morning. Filled with self-blame, Rebecca must deal with suspicious police and her ex-husband, while desperately searching for her son.
I admire McCann’s crafting. He manages to create compelling plots without sacrificing emotion or character development. He writes at a level to which every writer should aspire.
DISLIKE - Thirteen Ways of Looking, the title story, ran long and it was the only story in the collection, where I found my interest waning. Thirteen Ways of Looking is a nod to Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon, using a close third perspective while following multiple characters, each giving their version of the events leading to a murder. The suspense is kept until the very end, which is left open for the reader to determine the truth of the incident. From a technical standpoint, all of the parts of the story are well crafted and the shifting perspectives creates an interesting dynamic, however, I didn’t find it to be as affecting or haunting as the other stories. Thirteen Ways of Looking is ambitious in scale, but doesn’t have the same impact. I appreciated it, but didn’t invest in it.
RECOMMEND- Yes! Even if you don’t read the entire collection, make sure to get your hands on Treaty. It’s stellar. I look forward to reading more stories by Colum McCann. As a reader, I’m hooked, and as an aspiring writer, I want to learn from his talent.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT – Colum McCann’s short story collection, Thirteen Ways of Looking, includes four stories, all involving a different type of violence or trauma. In a short afterward, McCann explains that while he was writing this collection, when he was sucker punched and knocked unconscious, while trying to help a woman who was being assaulted in New Haven, Connecticut. Although some of the stories were written prior to the incident, the assault inevitably had an impact on his stories in Thirteen Ways of Looking.
LIKE – This is my first time reading McCann, and I was caught off-guard by the way that his stories have been following me. I can’t get them out of my mind, which is a bit of a disaster, since the content is disturbing and weighty.
I was affected by all of the stories, but the one that packed the biggest punch, was Treaty. Told in close third person, Treaty is the story of an aging nun named Beverly. When Beverly was in her early twenties, she was kidnapped, brutally tortured, and raped. She escaped, but so did her rapist. Fast forward to the present, when Beverly sees him on television. He is now in politics, in London brokering a peace deal. Shocked and unsure how to handle this revelation, Beverly heads to London to confront her attacker. Treaty is a raw, gut-wrenching story that left me entirely surprised.
Another highlight is Sh’khol, the story of divorced mother Rebecca, and her thirteen year old son. Tomas. Tomas has mental and emotional disabilities, and he is prone to violent outbursts. He cannot be left on his own. Overwhelmed, but doing her best to care for him, Rebecca’s Christmas gift to Tomas is a wetsuit, so that they can swim together in the ocean, just steps from their home. Rebecca has a cocktail and goes to bed on Christmas, only to discover that Tomas and the wetsuit are missing the next morning. Filled with self-blame, Rebecca must deal with suspicious police and her ex-husband, while desperately searching for her son.
I admire McCann’s crafting. He manages to create compelling plots without sacrificing emotion or character development. He writes at a level to which every writer should aspire.
DISLIKE - Thirteen Ways of Looking, the title story, ran long and it was the only story in the collection, where I found my interest waning. Thirteen Ways of Looking is a nod to Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon, using a close third perspective while following multiple characters, each giving their version of the events leading to a murder. The suspense is kept until the very end, which is left open for the reader to determine the truth of the incident. From a technical standpoint, all of the parts of the story are well crafted and the shifting perspectives creates an interesting dynamic, however, I didn’t find it to be as affecting or haunting as the other stories. Thirteen Ways of Looking is ambitious in scale, but doesn’t have the same impact. I appreciated it, but didn’t invest in it.
RECOMMEND- Yes! Even if you don’t read the entire collection, make sure to get your hands on Treaty. It’s stellar. I look forward to reading more stories by Colum McCann. As a reader, I’m hooked, and as an aspiring writer, I want to learn from his talent.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
lizaroo71's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collection of four stories (I believe the first is considered a novella, but a story nonetheless).
The first story moves slowly at first, but becomes more engaging once we realize the fate of our narrator.
The second story is about a writer (seemingly McCann) attempting to create a story to meet his deadline. An interesting entry into a creative mind. I did like all of the questions the author must ask about the characters he is creating.
One story is about a woman that has adopted a son that is deaf. She gives him a wet suit for his birthday and he ventures into the ocean in the middle of the night.
The final story is about a nun that has been kidnapped and tortured many years back. She sees her attacker on television speaking on a panel about peace. She sets out to find him - for what reason we aren't sure.
All in all, I breezed through these stories and realized that I really do like the style of writing employed by McCann.
The first story moves slowly at first, but becomes more engaging once we realize the fate of our narrator.
The second story is about a writer (seemingly McCann) attempting to create a story to meet his deadline. An interesting entry into a creative mind. I did like all of the questions the author must ask about the characters he is creating.
One story is about a woman that has adopted a son that is deaf. She gives him a wet suit for his birthday and he ventures into the ocean in the middle of the night.
The final story is about a nun that has been kidnapped and tortured many years back. She sees her attacker on television speaking on a panel about peace. She sets out to find him - for what reason we aren't sure.
All in all, I breezed through these stories and realized that I really do like the style of writing employed by McCann.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent title novella + 3 stories. Brilliant construction, words.
emjay2021's review against another edition
4.0
This book was my introduction to Colum McCann, and it has definitely made me want to read more by him. I loved the opening novella so much. The other short stories were good, but didn't grab me as much as the novella did. McCann's writing is beautiful and his characters are drawn so memorably that I almost started thinking of them as real people.
sarahbreeze's review against another edition
5.0
McCann is, I think, my very favorite, still alive author. If you're not reading his work, get to it.
jilliannichols's review against another edition
3.0
Beautifully written, but I struggle to not compare this to Let the Great World Spin, which I found to be so much more enjoyable to read.
mattneely's review against another edition
4.0
Great writer. I loved the first and the 3rd of the 4.
meganpalmer731's review against another edition
5.0
Colum McCann's "Let the Great World Spin" is one of my all-time favorites, so I knew when he had a new book coming out I would have to read it. When I heard it was short stories, I wasn't sure how much I would like it, but as soon as I started reading, I was captivated again immediately by his description, figurative language and unique writing style. Each story is completely different and yet fits together perfectly. This is a must-read... don't let the short story format stop you!
jhealybooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I love his writing, dark as the subject matter is.
alstavin's review against another edition
5.0
Audio book, read by author. Three short stories, captivating and mesmerizing.